Anglesey, Flintshire and Wrexham were among the fastest growing areas in Wales in the last three months of 2014 according to the latest research from RBS.

The RBS regional growth tracker also found Swansea and Newport were some of the slowest growing cities in Wales and both saw a rise in the unemployment rate in the year to the third quarter of 2014.

RBS regional director Barry Evans said: "Our lending book in Wales and the South West of England grew significantly for the first time in a number of years in 2014 with healthcare, manufacturing and agriculture all actively investing."

Percentage growth for UK regions in 2014 Q4

2.7

Wales

3

Scotland

3.7

London

Percentage growth for UK regions in 2014 Q4

The Welsh economy finished 2014 with estimated growth of 0.4% for the final quarter and 2.7% for the year.

This was in comparison to 3.7% annual growth in London and 2.4% in the East of England.

The news comes as both Newport and Swansea are preparing for the launch of significant developments in 2015.

In Swansea the £450m Bay Campus of Swansea University will welcome its first students in September while in Newport the £100m Friars Walk shopping centre is due to open in November.

Mr Evans added: "There's definitely a more upbeat feel in the local economy.

"Our customers are demonstrating higher levels of confidence, they're now more open and receptive to embracing the insights and solutions we discuss with them."

He said: "A good example is agriculture which has the potential for income diversification.

"We are finding the farming community is now far more receptive to new ideas on broadening income streams such as from green/ renewable energy than they used to be.

RBS says the farming community is now far more receptive to new ideas on broadening income streams

"Consumer demand continues to surprise us; as value for money and available spending power improves in the economy it has a knock-on effect on business.

"The looming General Election has created some additional uncertainty around what this might mean for employers and entrepreneurs in terms of changes to regulation, tax and VAT etc. but overall businesses are optimistic about prospects in 2015 and beyond."

Gwern Evans, managing director of handmade jewellery business Rhiannon Ltd in Ceredigion, said: "The last year has been a relatively good one with significant growth and progress for Rhiannon.

"We’ve increased turnover and profit and created a number of new positions within the company.

"We are also looking to invest further and expand the business during the year to come.

"Conditions remain favourable from our perspective and we feel optimistic and confident about the year ahead.”